Ford is First Automaker Allowed to Test Self-Driving Vehicles in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, October 22, Ford confirmed that it is going to start testing autonomous vehicle technology right on the Federal government’s doorstep in the heart of Washington, D.C. Ford has also been testing its new experimental technology in Miami, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.

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Ford recently posted on Medium about their endeavors, claiming that the program intends to study autonomous vehicles and how they can be deployed throughout all the D.C. neighborhoods. Their goal is to promote job creation and give people a chance to afford such technology when it initially becomes available. The company and its spokespeople claim that self-driving vehicles make it easier and more affordable for others to get jobs because they don’t have to rely on public transportation. Along with such, they intend to have these autonomous vehicles deliver products and food, as well as many other things.

Change is Good

While some people still claim that self-driving cars are too dangerous, Ford believes that change is always for the better. However, they’re working slowly and giving people time to prepare for such changes so that the communities in which they are testing are more open and willing to consider such options.

The Ultimate Goal

Of course, Ford’s end goal is to deploy their vehicles as a commercial service by the year 2021, which is designed to serve all eight wards of the D.C. area. However, what form it takes has yet to be seen. While Ford also desires to serve the residents of Washington, their primary motive here is to establish operations in such a busy area. The nation’s capital is an excellent choice because it could pave the way for regulation revisions that take into account autonomous technology.